Volunteers plant 800 trees at Wistman’s Wood as Dartmoor rainforest restoration continues

Volunteers have planted a further 800 trees at Wistman’s Wood on Dartmoor, as part of a long-term effort to restore and expand one of South West England’s last remaining fragments of temperate rainforest.

The latest planting at the National Nature Reserve follows the establishment of 450 saplings at the site in March 2025. The work was led by volunteers from Natural England, in partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall, Moor Trees, and the Woodland Trust.

The planting marks the next stage in the Duchy’s plans to gradually double the size of the woodland and supports its Dartmoor Landscape Vision, a 20-year strategy developed with farmers, conservationists and local stakeholders to guide future environmental management across the Duchy’s Dartmoor holdings.

Wistman’s Wood is an ancient oak woodland of just over seven acres in the West Dart Valley. It holds multiple conservation designations - National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation - reflecting its ecological importance. Temperate rainforests are globally rare, with around 90% lost since the Bronze Age and only about 8% remaining in Devon and Cornwall.

The new saplings were planted within fenced exclusion plots to protect young trees and improve their chances of survival. Many were grown from locally collected acorns and rowan seeds gathered at Wistman’s Wood and raised by Moor Trees at its Community Tree Nursery in Dartington, South Devon, through a partnership with the Duchy that began in 2021.

Emma Magee, Head of Communities and Nature on Dartmoor for the Duchy of Cornwall, said: “We are delighted to have been able to return to Wistman’s Wood and to be working with partners including Natural England and Moor Trees to continue this important work. The continued restoration of this iconic woodland reflects the Duchy’s commitment to building and enhancing nature-rich landscapes. Expanding and strengthening a rare temperate rainforest isn’t a one-off intervention, it requires steady, long-term effort. This work forms an important part of our wider efforts to build the long-term resilience of Dartmoor’s landscape, following the release of our Dartmoor Landscape Vision last year.”

Andrew Bakere, Senior Reserves Manager at Natural England, said: “This strong partnership is driving woodland expansion around our temperate rainforests - rare, unique, and irreplaceable habitats. We’re energised in our mission to support wildlife and repair the very fabric of our landscape. These woods represent our past culture and heritage and are our future defence against climate change. They help manage waterflow from the uplands, reduce storm impacts and protecting communities downstream.”

Jess Duffy, Woodland Officer at Moor Trees, highlighted the role of volunteers in the project. “It is an honour to be able to support the restoration of this globally significant habitat. Our volunteers are playing an integral part in Wistman’s Wood’s recovery and expansion from gathering the acorns and rowan seeds from the existing woodland, nurturing them into young saplings at our Community Tree Nursery and being part of planting days. It is vital that right across Dartmoor we are able to help restore and create new temperate rainforest habitats. Working in partnership is a really effective way to achieve this.”

Elle Bullimore, Regional Director at the Woodland Trust, added: “We’re thrilled to see more trees taking root on Dartmoor this month, continuing work started at Wistman’s Wood last spring to expand this rare fragment of temperate rainforest. With so little of this precious habitat left in Devon, every sapling counts. Thanks to the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery (PPL), the Woodland Trust has been able to provide funding for protective fencing, which will ensure the young trees have the space they need to establish and thrive. This ongoing effort shows what can be achieved when partners, landowners and local communities come together with a shared vision for restoration.”